Why Upcoming Presidential Debates Must Focus On the Dilemma of Radical Islam

In October 4th, 2012 the first presidential debate had its debut, as the first of three upcoming debates, in what is expected to be one of the most watched presidential debates in the history of the US.

Many important issues were discussed, ranging anywhere from taxes to deficit, spending cuts to creating more jobs, and Medicare to Obama care. Yet one major and very serious issue was noticeably missing; National security.

The issue is very pivotal especially in light of the most recent developments in the Middle East and Libya in particular. It may come as a surprise to many that radical Islamists are watching these debates and have a vested interest in knowing the agenda of either candidate when it comes to dealing with them. What is being proposed against them? What should they anticipate to deal with in the next four years?

These questions may not appear as important to many since these debates should focus on internal problems with the economy at the helm of such issues. However, one can argue that Radical Islam is as equally important to deal with as does the economy for many reasons.

For starter, radical Islam has been on the rise in the last decade and had many accomplishments that countered the war against it. One of those achievements had to do with the ability of radical Islamists to fill the power vacuum created by the so-called Arab Spring, where organized groups as the Muslim Brotherhood and Al-Qaeda are taking full advantage of these gaps and rising to power.

Other noticeable achievements include the rise of terror activities against the US in Afghanistan at the hands of Afghani soldiers who are being trained by the US military. A clear sign by the radicals of rejecting the US presence in their country. It is also an attempt on their part to flux their muscles in the area, in light of the recent announcement by the US to gradually withdraw its forces from Afghanistan. To the radical Islamists, such withdrawal can only mean one thing, THEY WON the war against the US just as they won it in the past against the Soviets.

The Benghazi attack against the US consulate and the killing of the US ambassador serves as another sign of rejection against the US and exposes the state of weakness, at least in the mind of radical Islamists, in terms of the ability of existing US security to protect their diplomats. Such failure boosts the psychological mindset of radical Islamists against the US as their arch enemy.

The return of the Taliban to Afghanistan hallmarked by their many recent attacks against US soldiers and Afghani people sympathetic to western societies. Such actions are so alarming and lead the radicals to believe that the US mission in Afghanistan which lasted for a decade had failed.

Al-Qaeda is regrouping and organizing its efforts in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria. In doing so, they are clearly taking full advantage of the noticeable lack of presence and the lack of interest by the US to engage them at a heavier level than the drone attacks.

These signs and more can only mean one thing to the radical Islamists, the US today is no longer the International Power it used to be. Such a thought can be devastating to many who share our interest and long for freedom in the region, since it means radicals will rule them without any noticeable opposition.

Our hope is that the upcoming presidential debates will devote a major part of the debate on the issue of the golbal rise of radical Islam, and any serious US efforts to stop it. Any lack of such mention will only reinforce the Radicals’ agenda against the US. For if one is to judge the progress of war on terror in the past few years, one will quickly realize that so far the radicals have won the war at the price of precious military men and women in uniform and the price of freedom.

The dilemma of radical Islam will without a doubt have a national impact NOW just as it had an international one in the past few years, and more specifically, the past few weeks in the wake of the YouTube movie about Muhammad.

For more on what Radical Islam stand for get a copy of our book “The Quran Dilemma”. Visit us at www.TheQuran.com